RAM upgrade (ProBook 4520s)

[Telkwa]

I also have a 4520S.  Bought it as 32-bit from Newegg, then bought the recovery discs from HP.  HP sent a 32-bit recovery disc and a 64-bit disc, so a coupla days ago I put in an SSD and installed from the 64-bit disc.

Now I'd like to bump up the RAM.  In the above thread are recommendations for 1.5V RAM and 1.35V.  I visited Crucial and went thru their manual parts picker.  Ended up here.  Crucial specifies 1.35V.  I assume they know what they're talking about?

HP's Parts site is uninformative on the voltage issue, only lists 1GB and 2GB parts, and the prices are absurd.

Newegg lists two different 8GB Crucial RAM kits.  One's 1.35V, one's 1.5V.  The 1.35V kit does not match the part number on the Crucial website, though I can't tell what the difference might be.  Notice that all the other RAM kits on that page appear to be 1.5V.  I don't know exactly what would happen if the voltages were mismatched but I don't want to use my 4520S to find out.  Can anyone provide further guidance on the correct 8GB specs?

EDIT:  I forgot to mention that Crucial's website says they're out of stock.  If they'd had some I woulda bought.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

The crucial part from New Egg is a generic part which is basically the same as the one identified for your PC.

I get mine from New Egg all the time and normally they cost less on New Egg.

Only had one problem in many purchases where one stick of crucial desktop memory was bad.

I would unplug the PC, remove the battery and get whatever info you can get from the chip that is in there.

If the crucial description on the crucial website is 1.35v for your specific model, then I would go with that.

[Telkwa]

OK, thanks, Paul -

It shouldn't be hard to find out whether it's 1.35V or 1.5V, but the HP site is not freely divulging that info. 

Dangit, I was right there at the RAM when I popped the SSD in.  Shoulda taken a picture, or written down all the details.

You're probly right - if the Crucial site sez 1.35V I could just go with that.  Just to be sure maybe I should open it back up and take a peek. 

What's weird is if I google the Samsung stick quoted by the OP it shows up as 1.5V.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome. 

Maybe the voltage doesn't matter? Maybe it can use either and the 1.35v saves battery power.

Here is an article about DIMM's and voltages. No mention of 1.35v for a DDR3 chip...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR3_SDRAM

[Telkwa]

OK, I've got one stick of Elpida EBJ21UE8BFUO-DJ-F. 

Even with the exact part # I'm not exactly getting a clear answer.  Elpida's website isn't very helpful.

Here's a short Crucial Knowledge Base discussion re: dual-voltage DDR3.

This thread at Anandtech indicates the system should compensate.  "Should" is one of those words that can blow up in your face...

OK, this is interesting - here's another webpage at Crucial, selling just one 4GB stick for the 4520S.  Notice this stick is 1.5V.  But this webpage is interesting for something the other webpage, the one selling the 8GB kit, did not have.  Under the picture of the module, click on "Articles".  There's another discussion of 1.35V vs. 1.5V. 

Also, if you go back to the first Crucial page, with the 8GB kit, then click on "Show All Compatible Memory", there's a 1.5V kit right under the 1.35V kit.

I'm convinced.  Or convinced enough anyway.  AFAIKT here's the deal: if the 4520S is capable of running 1.35V sticks at 1.35, then it will.  If it's not, the sticks can handle 1.5V.  I'm gonna get 1.35V RAM and see what happens.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Sounds like a plan. 

[Telkwa]

So I ordered this.  Will post back with an update when it's installed.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

OK.

I am pretty sure it will work just fine.

[Telkwa]

And you were right.  WIndows recognizes 8GB of RAM, and the laptop feels snappier.  I scrolled thru the BIOS, which is pretty basic.  Could not find any report on RAM voltage.  It would be nice to know whether the laptop was smart enuf to go back to 1.35V, but the important thing is the generic Crucial sticks from Newegg worked.  In case the Newegg link breaks, the Crucial RAM I bought for the HP4520S was labeled as:

8 GB KIT

2 - 4GB DDR3 - 1333 (PC3 10600)

SODIMM 1.35V 204 PIN

CT2KIT51264BF1339

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Glad the memory worked for you.

I don't know how you can check the voltage.

I would have to imagine it is automatically adjusted to the correct voltage automatically.